I recently had the opportunity to film onboard the Coast Guard 36500 Lifesaving Boat, this is the same vessel that performed the miraculous rescue of the crew of the SS Pendleton in 1952 and inspired the book and film “The Finest Hours.” The CG36500 is maintained by the Orleans Historical Society, which ensures its preservation and has shared its history with the public since 1981.

I teamed up with skilled technologist and videographer Milton Levin and we worked with several different digital recording devices to cover the 36500 on its trip from its home base in Orlean’s Rock Harbor to the floating dock of the US Coast Guard Station Cape Cod Canal where it was part of the Changing of the Guard ceremony for Coast Guard Captain’s Clint Prindle and Mimi Moon.

Canon XA70 UHD and Canon RF 15-35 mm cameras documented interviews and the ceremony along with collecting B-Roll. A GoPro 12 attached to the interior of the 36500 filmed the action in the tight quarters of the cabin and a GoPro 11 placed on the mast recorded the point of from the bow. The Insta360 OneX2 360 camera recorded the journey from an accompanying Coast Guard response vessel, with the camera programed to follow and frame up the 36500. The DJI Mavic 3 drone captured aerial footage of the 36500 as it navigated the Cape Cod Canal and the East Boat Basin. A handheld Google Pixel Phone with a video rig stabilizing bracket filmed the 36500 under difficult conditions with excellent results.

The short video of the CG36500 demonstrates the use of the various technologies to capture the majestic vessel and its crew navigating the canal and inner harbor of the Coast Guard Station.

It really was an amazing honor to work and sail on the same boat that heroic Boatswain Bernie Webber and his crew of Engineman Andy Fitsgerald, Seaman Richard Livesey, and Seaman Irving Maske conducted their daring rescue, considered one of the most remarkable in the history of the United States Coast Guard.

I would like to thank Officer in Charge Boatswain’s Mate Chief Petty Officer Larry Johnson Station Cape Cod Canal, Jay Stradal, Chair, Board of Directors, The Centers for Culture and History in Orleans and the CG3600 crew on the days of shoot, Coxswain Bill Amaru, Howard Gostin, Lee Marchildon, John Norton, and Johnny Sinopoli. The support and assistance from this group was greatly appreciated! Photo credits Milton Levin and National Archives